Owen Wister’s 1902 western novel The Virginian was one of the first great novels of the American West. Set in the semi-mythical town of Medicine Bow, Wyoming in the 1890s, it chronicled the lives and relationships of the people who came west and settled the wild land. Starring James Drury in the title role, The Virginian was the first 90 minute television western, airing in prime time on NBC from 1962-1971. The stellar cast included Lee J. Cobb, Doug McClure, Gary Clark and Roberta Shore, and each week brought talented guest stars to The Virginian. Season One’s line-up of luminaries reads like a who’s who of Hollywood, including George C. Scott, Lee Marvin, Bette Davis, Robert Duvall, Brian Keith, Colleen Dewhurst, Hugh O’Brian, Ricardo Montalban, Eddie Albert, Tammy Grimes, Clu Gulager, Fabian, Vera Miles, Michael Rennie, Ida Lupino, and many more!
Rating: 
(out of 7 reviews)
List Price: $ 79.98
Price: $ 39.49
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May 31, 2010
#1
Review by Sherryl Williams
Rating:
I am very glad to see the Virginian is finally out on DVD. The first season is 10 dvd out in May. I remember the series with great fondness. The fist season has many good episodes with Judge Garth and how he came to adopt Betsy. It also has Trampas at his most charming. I am anxious to see if the old series holds up. It took a long time to put it on DVD as it was in a 90 minute format. All Were in color also. This is a series worth watching again. Pay careful attention to the guest stars. Many are famous now and were not then.
May 31, 2010
#2
Review by ADW
Rating:
If you’ve seen these as they are now showing on Encore Westerns, you know that the quality is amazing, can’t wait to get these on DVD!!
May 31, 2010
#3
Review by Mad Mau
Rating:
Just picked up Season One – Part One, Season One – Part Two, Season Two – Part One & Season Two – Part Two at my local Sam’s Club at $19.98 for each half season.
I’ve only watched a couple of episodes, but can tell you that the picture quality is even better than it is on my Dish Network Encore Western Channel where they are currently showing. Image quality on the Dish channel is 480i by satellite and the colors are much more vibrant and the picture sharper on the new DVD discs.
There are also interviews of some length included, by: James Drury, Roberta Shore, Peter Brown and others.
If you want a super deluxe set, then wait for this special Tin Box package release. However, if like me, you can’t wait any longer for your very own Virginian “fix”, then trot down to your local Sam’s Club and see if they are also carrying them.
May 31, 2010
#4
Review by Miss Marples
Rating:
I couldn’t wait for the May release of this fine series either so I picked it up at Sam’s Club. This has to be the most beautifully photographed of all the classic TV Westerns. Another reviewer mentioned each episode was like a mini-movie, and this is true.
The storylines are credible and entertaining, and the cast is stellar. LJ Cobb is in a category by himself, of course, but having watched the first two seaons on Encore Westerns (and then again on the DVDs) I’d forgotten what a genuinely good actor James Drury was. Ditto for Clu Gulagher and Doug McClure. And while I am enjoying the later episodes, I must confess I miss Gary Clarke’s “Steve” and the chemistry the three main leads–Drury, McClure and Clarke–displayed during the first two seasons.
One of the things I find enjoyable is how “real” the series plays. The guy that played Randy carps about this in the book written about the series (especially how the horses were handled?) but I beg to differ. Within the constraints of the time it was filmed–the 60s and 70s when all the actresses had the wrong hair and makeup for the Victorian Era, and even the dim saloon interiors were lit up bright as day–The Virginian looked as real as it could get. It’s one of the few Western series that actually took advantage of the vistas–we get plenty of sweeping shots of Shiloh, etc.–and low and behold! When the script called for it, Drury and Co. were actually portrayed as scruffy, dusty and *bearded*.
And another thing: They actually herded real cattle and horses. I don’t recall that happening on any episode of The Big Valley. And did any of Ben and his sons ever sport a five o’clock shadow, even when they’d been out riding the trail for days, away from the ranch house and hot water?
Finally, the leads could all actually RIDE. I’m talking about Drury and McClure here, especially, as both of them are perfectly at ease with horses, on the ground as well as astride, but all actors that were supposed to be working cowboys look credible riding. LJ Cobb, not so much–I can see where they shot and edited some scenes to cover his unease but even that doesn’t detract. After all, the Judge is the boss–he’s not a range rider. It’s conceivable that while he might be comfortable around horses that he wouldn’t be a crack rider as his hands would have to be.
Now, as to the quality of the DVDS: They are excellent. They look sharper played in my upscaling Blu-Ray player than they look on Encore, and that’s saying something. I was afraid we would be short-changed when it came to the transfer quality but someone took pains to make the DVDs as pristine as possible. I’m sure it helps that the original series was such a high quality production to begin with. I haven’t gotten to the bonus tracks yet as I am still savoring the episodes.
So when do we get Season Three?
May 31, 2010
#5
Review by Christina M. Freese
Rating:
I am so glad to see that this series is being brought out on DVD and I cannot wait to obtain the whole series (1962-1971). I know the name was changed from THE VIRGINIAN to the MEN FROM SHILOH and despite not having seen the whole series when it was telecast, I enjoy it so much that I watch it at every opportunity and would like to add the whole series to my collection. It’s a great western series with romance, humour, action and great special guest stars.